Monument Valley hosts Veterans Marathon on 21 November 2026

Monument Valley (Tse Bii Ndzisgaii) will host the Monument Valley Veterans Marathon on 21 November 2026 in Oljato, United States. The marathon, half marathon and Wildcat 4-Miler will start and finish inside the Navajo Tribal Park.

The event places organised trail racing alongside the sandstone buttes and desert routes that define the park. Its courses cross both the better-known Valley Loop road and less frequently visited backcountry areas.

Veterans Marathon brings three races to the park

The programme includes a marathon, a half marathon and the Wildcat 4-Miler. The marathon starts at 9am on 21 November 2026, the half marathon at 10am and the four-mile race at noon, according to the race programme.

NavajoYES and Navajo Parks and Recreation co-sponsor the event, with support from several local organisations named by the organisers. The programme also describes post-race music, entertainment and a recognition of veterans at the finish line.

The races all start and finish in Arizona, although the park straddles the Arizona and Utah border. The organiser places the park 23 miles northeast of Kayenta and 20 miles south of Mexican Hat, giving the event a clear regional setting for visitors travelling through the Four Corners.

Backcountry routes meet Monument Valley formations

The marathon route includes dirt and jeep roads, sand and a backcountry section. It passes named features including Arches Loop, Totem Pole, The Cube and Rain God Mesa, while the half marathon follows the Valley Loop road.

The Wildcat 4-Miler is held on the Wildcat Trail around and between East and West Mitten. That route connects the race programme directly with two of the formations seen from the visitor centre, rather than using the park only as a race-day backdrop.

The Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation park information describes the area as a 91,696-acre landscape spanning Utah and Arizona. It also identifies the Wildcat Trail and the Mitten Buttes as named visitor features.

The park is a Navajo Tribal Park rather than a United States national park. Its visitor centre overlooks the Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte, while some areas, including named backcountry landmarks, require a guided tour or a permit.

Visiting Monument Valley: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Monument Valley Veterans Marathon, half marathon and Wildcat 4-Miler take place at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park on 21 November 2026.
• The race routes use dirt and jeep roads, sand, the Valley Loop road and the Wildcat Trail, so participants should expect uneven desert terrain and a substantial climb near the end of the marathon.
• The park lies across Arizona and Utah, with the race start and finish in Arizona; the organiser identifies Kayenta and Mexican Hat as the nearest reference towns.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Monument Valley

When does the Veterans Marathon take place at Monument Valley?

The Monument Valley Veterans Marathon, half marathon and Wildcat 4-Miler take place on 21 November 2026 at the Navajo Tribal Park.

Where is Monument Valley and how do you get there?

The park spans Arizona and Utah. The race organiser places it 23 miles northeast of Kayenta and 20 miles south of Mexican Hat.

What is Monument Valley?

It is a 91,696-acre Navajo Tribal Park known for sandstone formations including the Mitten Buttes, Merrick Butte and Totem Pole.